Announcements
St. John’s Lutheran Church
109 Maple St. Burt, Iowa|Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Pastor: Rev. Thomas Cowell
Secretary: Rosann Shipler
Pastor’s Cell: 319-464-5548
Church Office: 515-924-3344 stjohnsburt.org
Pastor’s Email: pastor@stjohnsburt.org
Church Email: churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org
THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
August 1, 2021
Merciful Father, You gave Your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on Him in Your Word and Sacraments that we may be nourished unto life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S Today, August 1, 2021 8:00 a.m. Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service Tuesday, August 3, 2021 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Sunday, August 8, 2021 8:00 a.m. Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service | THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR August 3, 2021 Commemoration of Joanna, Mary, and Salome -- Myrrhbearers |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Kitty Bierstedt
Elder for August: Boyd Shipler
Greeters: Terry and Vicki Terry Briggs
Evening Prayer Discontinued - We will no longer be having evening prayer the last Tuesday of the month. We will continue to have morning prayer every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
New Schedule - Beginning Sunday, September 12, Sunday School and adult class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Divine Service will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Welcome Home! A celebration is being held for Austin and Aly who have returned from Iraq. Also, we want to congratulate Austin and his wife, Rachel since we were unable to do their wedding reception last summer due to Covid and the deployment! Come today (August 1) from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Fenton Legion for a reception. Following the reception we will be moving to Mike and Amy Bierstedt farm at 3307 20th Avenue, Fenton, Iowa. If you are coming to the farm, bring a lawn chair and your own drinks. Mike and Amy Bierstedt
Stained Glass Windows have been installed! Take a moment and view our newly installed windows at the east entrance of the church. Thank you to everyone who generously supported this project, especially Esther Christensen and Helen Smith families for their memorial donations. Also, special thanks to Pam and Randy Reimers for coordinating with Bogenrief Studios out of Sutherland, Iowa in the designing and installation of these beautiful windows.
Partnership Rally Day at Smith Lake - The entire congregation is invited to our Partnership Rally Day at the east shelter at Smith Lake Sunday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. We will begin with a brief prayer service including the installation of Sunday School teachers and presentation of Bibles and Catechism, followed by lunch and games. Bring a lawn chair or blanket!
- Note that we will have our regularly scheduled Divine Service at St. John’s at 9:00 a.m. on this Sunday as well.
Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing - Join us Wednesday, September 8 at St. John’s for our Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing! The potluck begins at 5:30 in the church basement. Bring a main dish, side, or desert if you’re able. (Feel free to come later if work prevents you from arriving at 5:30.) Then, join us at the outdoor altar at 6:30 for a hymn sing; we'll be taking requests! Please label your serving dishes if you’d like them back.
Sign-Making Day at St. John’s - If you are interested in making a Joshua 24:15 sign for your house like the VBS families did, please sign up on the back table. We need at least five participants to be able to host this project at St. John’s. When we have at least five participants we will pick a date that works for everyone to make the signs. There is an example of the sign in the back of the church for you to see.
St. John’s T-Shirt Sales - If you missed your opportunity to purchase a St. John’s T-shirt a year ago (or you would like a second one!), we will have more T-shirts available within the next couple weeks. If you’d like to purchase one, give your shirt size and $6.00 per shirt to the church office and we will get your shirt to you as soon as they arrive.
St. John’s Prayer Chain - You are always welcome to submit a prayer to our St. John’s Flocknote Prayer Chain. Simply share your prayer with Pastor Cowell or the church office and we will send it to our Flocknote Prayer Chain group. If you would like to receive Prayer Chain text messages or emails, or any other St. John’s communications via Flocknote, please contact Pastor Cowell or the church office.
Greeter and Usher Sign-up - We're excited to reintroduce greeters to our Sunday mornings at St. John's! Your family or you and a friend are welcome to sign up for a Sunday to greet on the back table. Of course, hand shaking will be optional. Also, we'd love to have at least one usher per month to help Jeff with duties as needed. You can sign up for this on the back table as well.
Pastoral Care On Demand - Pastor Cowell would love to serve you Communion at church or at home, pray, read Scripture, offer Christian counsel, and/or just visit any time that works for you! Call or text him any time at 319-464-5548.
St. John’s Live-streamed Service - The easiest way to access our service livestreams and recordings is to click on the links posted on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org.
SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Trinity, Algona Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook.
Kossuth County Fair Volunteers Needed - The Partnership congregations will be helping serve the free BBQ at the fair the evening of Wednesday, August 4. Please let Pastor Cowell or the church office know if you are able to help at this event.
Traveling to Camp Okoboji - For those coming to Camp Okoboji, a gravel access road has been put into place. The normal turn off Highway 86 will take you to Camp’s entry via the access road. There is no longer a need to go around the Wahpeton Loop. However, the access road only comes to Camp’s entry. If you want to go beyond Camp’s entry, you would still need to go around the Wahpeton Loop.
Building Healthy Families: Did you know a snail can sleep for three years? What a long nap! Although we do not sleep that long, Jesus offers a greater rest. In Matthew 11:28 he tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” During the coming week, take Jesus up on His offer for rest from the worries of this world. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.
SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Trinity, Algona Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook.
Kossuth County Fair Volunteers Needed - The Partnership congregations will be helping serve the free BBQ at the fair the evening of Wednesday, August 4. Please let Pastor Cowell or the church office know if you are able to help at this event.
Traveling to Camp Okoboji - For those coming to Camp Okoboji, a gravel access road has been put into place. The normal turn off Highway 86 will take you to Camp’s entry via the access road. There is no longer a need to go around the Wahpeton Loop. However, the access road only comes to Camp’s entry. If you want to go beyond Camp’s entry, you would still need to go around the Wahpeton Loop.
Building Healthy Families: Did you know a snail can sleep for three years? What a long nap! Although we do not sleep that long, Jesus offers a greater rest. In Matthew 11:28 he tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” During the coming week, take Jesus up on His offer for rest from the worries of this world. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 13)
Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-15
The Lord gives grumbling Israel manna to eat in the desert.
Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-16
There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Gospel: John 6:22-35
Jesus says: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS
“As man [Jesus] was put to the test, but as God he came through victorious - yes, he bids us be of good cheer, because he has conquered the world. He hungered - yet he fed thousands. He is indeed ‘living, heavenly bread.’ He thirsted - yet he exclaimed: ‘Whoever thirsts, let him come to me and drink.’ Indeed, he promised that believers would become fountains.” - Gregory Nazianzen, Oration, On the Son, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, 90.
LESSONS ON THE LITURGY
Elevation of the Host and Chalice
After the bread and wine is consecrated during the Communion Liturgy, Pastor elevates the host (large piece of bread) and chalice above his head for the congregation to see. He does this so that we can all adore and worship the body and blood of Jesus who is now present in the bread and wine. This adoration is a great moment of faith. Our eyes see bread and wine lifted up, but our hearts see body and blood. This adoration lasts only a few seconds so that we can move on to the most important part: the eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV: The Mass, paragraphs 71-73, 75
Christ instituted the Sacrament to enliven terrified hearts, since He commanded the disciples to do this in remembrance of Him. Remembering Christ is not the useless celebration. It is not something set up for the sake of example, as the memory of Hercules is celebrated. Rather, it is remembering Christ's benefits and receiving them through faith, to be enlivened by them. So Psalm 111:4-5 says, "He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear Him." The Sacrament illustrates that God's will and mercy should be discerned in the ceremony. Faith that grasps mercy enlivens. This is the chief use of the Sacrament. Clearly those with terrified consciences are fit for the Sacrament.
The Fathers speak of a twofold effect: the comfort of consciences and thanksgiving, or praise. The former of these effects has to do with the nature of the Sacrament; the latter has to do with the sacrifice. Ambrose says about comfort: Go to Him and be absolved, because He is the forgiveness of sins. Do you ask who He is? Hear Him when He says, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).
This passage declares that the forgiveness of sins is offered in the Sacrament.
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